Deep insight into the functioning of living systems depends upon a thorough knowledge of the chemical and physical principles that govern the structure and behaviour of biomolecules.

Molecular biology encompasses those areas of science devoted to a detailed understanding of the fundamental molecular and biochemical components of living systems and of how these components interact in the functional (healthy) and dysfunctional (diseased) organism. Such understanding finds application in numerous areas including basic biotechnology, diagnostics and forensics, and drug discovery.

This programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills essential to embark on a career in these or other exciting areas of science.

This course is also available for full-time evening study over three years and part-time evening study over six years.

In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), in a joint submission with UCL, Biological Sciences at Birkbeck were ranked 11th in the UK, with a research environment supporting world-leading and internationally excellent research.

Course structure

The BSc Molecular Biology is composed of compulsory modules and a core module studied at Levels 4, 5 and 6 to a total of 360 credits. You complete 90 credits a year in Years 1 to 3 and 60 credits in Year 4.

In Year 1, you take six compulsory modules, each worth 15 credits.

In Year 2, you take two compulsory modules, each worth 15 credits and a core module worth 60 credits.

In Year 3, you take three compulsory modules, each worth 30 credits.

In Year 4, you take two compulsory modules: Structural Molecular Biology, worth 30 credits, and a Specialist Laboratory Research Project worth 60 credits.

Year 3

Year 4

Entry requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Alternative entry routes

BTEC Extended Diploma in Applied Science with Distinction or Merit; Access to Higher Education Diploma with a minimum of 15 credits achieved at Merit or Distinction in science units.

The Certificate of Higher Education in Life Sciences for Subjects Allied to Medicine provides a direct route into Year 1 of the BSc.

Mature applicants with experience are expected to have a strong interest in molecular/biochemical sciences. Previous personal experience of the biological, biomedical, pharmaceutical or health-science fields is desirable.

We are committed to making the biological sciences accessible to students from a wide range of backgrounds and with diverse career aspirations.

International entry requirements

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Visa requirements

If you are not from the European Economic Area (EEA) and/or Switzerland and you are coming to study in the UK, you may need to apply for a visa.

The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

Courses of more than six months’ duration.

Courses of less than six months’ duration.

Pre-sessional English language courses.

International students who require a Tier 4 visa should apply for our three-year evening study BA/BSc/LLB degrees, as these are classified as full-time study and qualify for student visa status. If you are living in the UK on a Tier 4 visa, you will not be eligible to enrol as a student on Birkbeck’s part-time evening study degrees.

Credits and Accredited Prior Learning (APL)

If you have studied at university previously, you may have accumulated credits through the modules you studied.
It may be possible to transfer these credits from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.
You should discuss this with the Programme Director when you are making your application.

Fees

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their programme. Tuition fees for students continuing on their programme in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases. For more information, please see the College Fees Policy.

Teaching

At Birkbeck, almost all of our courses are taught in the evening and our teaching is designed to support students
who are juggling evening study with work and other daytime commitments. We actively encourage innovative and
engaging ways of teaching, to ensure our students have the best learning experience. In the 2017 Teaching
Excellence Framework (TEF), the government’s system for rating university teaching, Birkbeck was allocated a
Silver award.

Teaching may include formal lectures, seminars, and practical classes and tutorials. Formal lectures are used in
most degree programmes to give an overview of a particular field of study. They aim to provide the stimulus and
the starting point for deeper exploration of the subject during your own personal reading. Seminars give you the
chance to explore a specific aspect of your subject in depth and to discuss and exchange ideas with fellow
students. They typically require preparatory study.

Our distance-learning and blended-learning courses and modules are self-directed and we will provide you with
interactive learning opportunities and encourage you to collaborate and engage via various learning technologies.
These courses involve limited or no face-to-face contact between students and module tutors.

In addition, you will have access to pastoral support via a named Personal Tutor.

Methods of teaching on this course

Lectures, laboratory practicals and seminars. Much of the module content is available online.

Contact hours

On our taught courses, you will have scheduled teaching and study sessions each year. Alongside this, you will
also undertake assessment activities and independent learning outside of class. Depending on the modules you take,
you may also have additional scheduled academic activities, such as tutorials, dissertation supervision, practical
classes, visits and fieldtrips.

On our taught courses, the actual amount of time you spend in the classroom and in contact with your lecturers will
depend on your course, the option modules you select and when you undertake your final-year project.

On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, discussion, collaboration and interaction with your lecturers
and fellow students are encouraged and enabled through various learning technologies, but you may have limited or
no face-to-face contact with your module tutors.

The following information gives an indication of how many contact hours you can expect for each year of this course:

Year

Contact hours

1

114

2

114

3

114

4

53

Timetables

Timetables are usually available from September onwards and you can access your personalised timetable via your
My Birkbeck Profile online (if you have been invited to enrol).

Indicative class size

Class sizes vary, depending on your course, the module you are undertaking, and the method of teaching.
For example, lectures are presented to larger groups, whereas seminars usually consist of small,
interactive groups led by a tutor.

Independent learning

On our taught courses, much of your time outside of class will be spent on self-directed, independent learning,
including preparing for classes and following up afterwards. This will usually include, but is not limited to,
reading books and journal articles, undertaking research, working on coursework and assignments, and preparing
for presentations and assessments.

Independent learning is absolutely vital to your success as a student. Everyone is different, and the study time
required varies topic by topic, but, as a guide, expect to schedule up to five hours of self-study for each hour
of teaching.

On our distance-learning and blended-learning courses, the emphasis is very much on independent, self-directed
learning and you will be expected to manage your own learning, with the support of your module tutors and various
learning technologies.

Study skills and additional support

Birkbeck offers study and learning support to undergraduate and postgraduate students to help them succeed.
Our Learning Development Service can
help you in the following areas:

Assessment

Assessment is an integral part of your university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and
examinations, although this will vary from course to course - on some of our courses, assessment is entirely by
coursework. The methods of assessment on this course are specified below under 'Methods of assessment on this
course'. You will need to allow time to complete coursework and prepare for exams.

Where a course has unseen written examinations, these may be held termly, but, on the majority of our courses,
exams are usually taken in the Summer term, during May to June. Exams may be held at other times of the year as
well. In most cases, exams are held during the day on a weekday - if you have daytime commitments, you will need
to make arrangements for daytime attendance - but some exams are held in the evening. Exam timetables are
published online.

Careers and employability

Graduates can pursue careers in scientific research, public health or the health sector more generally. This degree may also be useful in becoming a healthcare scientist, clinical research associate, health promotion specialist or higher education lecturer.

We offer a comprehensive Careers and Employability Service to help you advance your career, while our in-house, professional recruitment consultancy, Birkbeck Talent, works with London’s top employers to help you gain work experience that fits in with your evening studies.

Application deadlines and interviews

We recommend you apply as early as possible. Later applications may also be considered, subject to availability of places.

We make decisions based on your grades (achieved or predicted), your personal statement and your references. Before making you an offer, we will invite you to visit Birkbeck and to have an interview with the admissions tutor.